I'm confused. The CEO of Persado is quoted as saying "interest rates are low," while the article says that Metamarkets is paying 14% on a loan cut in Oct--for comparison, the Merrill Triple-C-Rated index ("extremely speculative" junk bonds) is under 12%. So while it's true that UST base rates are low, that doesn't seem to be a factor in this funding. Sounds like a story about a few banks goosing earnings with risky loans and company insiders/VCs getting more upside "if things work out" and far less of those pesky loses if they don't, very much like the speculative real estate development loans in the 80s that made for a big but very short party.